The Road to Sochi http://aspenpublicradio.org
enhttp://aspenpublicradio.org/feeds/7562/rss.xmlRoad to Sochi: A Look Back On Athletes' Efforts To Make Team USAhttp://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-look-back-athletes-efforts-make-team-usa
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">This week marks the end of our Road to </span>Sochi<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> series. For 22 weeks, we’ve followed a dozen local athletes as they worked their way toward competing in the Winter Olympics. Most didn’t make it because of injuries and fierce competition. Still, four athletes are there, competing for Team USA. Today we take a look back at the twelve athletes and their quest for an Olympic chance.</span></p><p>Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:50:54 +0000Marci Krivonen 14449 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: A Look Back On Athletes' Efforts To Make Team USARoad to Sochi: Durango's Lanny Barnes Grateful to Sister for Olympic Chancehttp://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-durangos-lanny-barnes-grateful-sister-olympic-chance
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">On Friday, a Colorado </span>biathlete<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> will compete in her first Olympic event in Sochi and her bid for an Olympic medal is thanks to her twin sister. Durango’s </span>Lanny<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> Barnes initially didn’t make Team USA, her sister did. But, in January, </span>Lanny’s<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> sister decided to give up her Olympic spot so </span>Lanny<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> could compete. Since then, the sisters have received loads of press from around the world. Aspen Public Radio's Marci Krivonen reports.</span></p><p>Tue, 11 Feb 2014 01:54:34 +0000Marci Krivonen 14115 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: Durango's Lanny Barnes Grateful to Sister for Olympic ChanceRoad to Sochi: Locals Traveling To Olympics Not "Overly" Concerned About Safetyhttp://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-locals-traveling-olympics-not-overly-concerned-about-safety
<p></p><p>The four Aspen-area athletes competing in the Winter Olympics arrive in Russia this week as the country prepares for opening ceremonies on Friday. Security in Sochi has been closely scrutinized after <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/12/30/258287084/bus-explosion-in-volgograd-follows-train-station-bombing">two suicide bombings killed 34 people</a> in another Russian town in late December. And, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory last month for Americans traveling to the Games. Still, a spokesman for the International Olympic Committee says security is being handled well by Russian authorities. For local athletes and family members traveling to Russia, safety is something they’re thinking about. Aspen Public Radio's Marci Krivonen reports.</p><p>Tue, 04 Feb 2014 00:22:08 +0000Marci Krivonen 13774 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: Locals Traveling To Olympics Not "Overly" Concerned About SafetyRoad to Sochi: Aspen's Torin Yater-Wallace Preps for Olympic Gameshttp://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-aspens-torin-yater-wallace-preps-olympic-games
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Aspen athlete </span>Torin<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span>Yater-<span style="line-height: 1.5;">Wallace</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> is heading to the Olympics next month and, he’ll be ushering in a new discipline: Ski </span>Halfpipe<span style="line-height: 1.5;">. The 18-year-old has been a standout ever since he began training with the local ski club in grade school. This season, he’s coming back from injuries suffered early in the season but, he says he’s feeling confident about the Olympic Games. Aspen Public Radio's Marci </span>Krivonen<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> reports.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Tue, 28 Jan 2014 04:17:24 +0000Marci Krivonen 13458 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: Aspen's Torin Yater-Wallace Preps for Olympic GamesRoad to Sochi: Olympian Chris Klug Fondly Remembers Gameshttp://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-olympian-chris-klug-fondly-remembers-games
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Aspen athlete Chris </span>Klug<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> knows a thing or two about participating in the Olympics. The three-time Olympic snowboard racer no longer competes but fondly remembers his time on the international stage. </span>Klug<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> defied the odds, earning a bronze medal in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City after receiving a liver transplant. Aspen Public Radio's Marci </span>Krivonen<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> sat down with him recently to talk about what the rising stars in </span>snowsports<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> can expect in </span>Sochi<span style="line-height: 1.5;">.</span></p><p>Tue, 21 Jan 2014 00:39:01 +0000Marci Krivonen 11041 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: Olympian Chris Klug Fondly Remembers GamesRoad to Sochi: U.S. Cross Country Team "Strongest Ever"http://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-us-cross-country-team-strongest-ever
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">History could be made at next month’s Winter Olympics in cross country skiing. Ski experts say the United States’ cross-country skiing team is the strongest it’s ever been. And, two of its members are from Aspen. This month, Noah Hoffman and Simi Hamilton learned they’re heading to </span>Sochi<span style="line-height: 1.5;">. Hoffman specializes in distance racing. Hamilton excels in sprints. The United States hasn’t picked up a medal in cross-country skiing since 1976. Aspen Public Radio's Marci </span>Krivonen<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> reports.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:20:31 +0000Marci Krivonen 12864 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: U.S. Cross Country Team "Strongest Ever"Road to Sochi: Documentary Highlights Dangers of Extreme Sportshttp://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-documentary-highlights-dangers-extreme-sports
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">As the Olympic Games get closer, the competitions are heating up. The Aspen-area athletes competing in ski racing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowboarding and </span>freeskiing<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> will find out soon whether they’ve made Team USA.&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Some local athletes compete in the </span>halfpipe<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> like </span>snowboarder<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> Gretchen </span>Bleiler<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> and </span>freeskiers<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span>Torin<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span>Yater-Wallace<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> and Alex </span>Ferriera<span style="line-height: 1.5;">. Skiing </span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">H</span>alfpipe<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> is a new discipline at the upcoming Olympics. Just like many competitions, this event can be dangerous and even fatal. A new documentary features 2010 Olympic hopeful Kevin Pearce</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;who crashed during training and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Aspen Public Radio's Marci Krivonen reports.</span></p><p>Tue, 07 Jan 2014 00:17:09 +0000Marci Krivonen 12552 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: Documentary Highlights Dangers of Extreme SportsRoad to Sochi: Knee Injury Takes Aspen Ski Racer Out of Olympic Trialshttp://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-knee-injury-takes-aspen-ski-racer-out-olympic-trials
<p></p>Tue, 31 Dec 2013 00:35:56 +0000Marci Krivonen 12267 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: Knee Injury Takes Aspen Ski Racer Out of Olympic TrialsRoad to Sochi: Abbott Credits Family for Figure Skating Successhttp://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-abbott-credits-family-figure-skating-success
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">As the Olympic Games get closer, athletes like figure skater Jeremy Abbott are working hard to make Team USA. The three-time U.S. champion and Aspen native has yet to deliver on the world stage. Abbott wants 2014 to be the year he takes a medal. With only two spots open on the U.S. men’s figure skating team, the competition is tough. Aspen Public Radio's Marci </span>Krivonen<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> reports.</span></p><p>Mon, 16 Dec 2013 23:34:50 +0000Marci Krivonen 11688 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: Abbott Credits Family for Figure Skating SuccessRoad to Sochi: Aspen's Olympic History Stretches Back Decadeshttp://aspenpublicradio.org/post/road-sochi-aspens-olympic-history-stretches-back-decades
<p>Over the last several weeks, we’ve heard from nearly a dozen athletes working toward competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics. That’s a big number and it isn’t uncommon. For decades, Aspen’s been either a hometown or training grounds for Olympic athletes. Since the 1930s, nearly thirty athletes with ties to Aspen have competed in the Olympic Games. Aspen Public Radio's Marci Krivonen reports.</p><p>Tue, 10 Dec 2013 00:21:45 +0000Marci Krivonen 11359 at http://aspenpublicradio.orgRoad to Sochi: Aspen's Olympic History Stretches Back Decades